How to Use a Palette Knife for Watercolor Painting

When most artists think of a palette knife, they picture thick oil or acrylic paint being sculpted onto a canvas. But did you know that you can use a palette knife with watercolor too? It’s an exciting way to add texture, depth, and spontaneity to your paintings—while keeping that beautiful, fluid watercolor look.

If you’re looking for a way to loosen up your style, embrace imperfections, and create bold, expressive marks, then working with a palette knife in watercolor is something you’ll love trying.

Why Try Palette Knife Watercolor Painting?

Using a palette knife with watercolor breaks all the traditional rules, and that’s exactly what makes it fun! Instead of relying on a brush for every detail, a palette knife helps you:

🎨 Create Texture – Scraping, dragging, and layering paint results in unique textures that are hard to achieve with a brush alone.
🎨 Loosen Up – If you tend to overwork your paintings, a palette knife forces you to embrace spontaneity and let the paint flow.
🎨 Mix Colors Differently – Instead of carefully blending on the palette, you can mix directly on the paper, leading to unexpected and beautiful color variations.
🎨 Add Bold Contrast – Palette knives allow for sharp edges and crisp highlights that make elements pop.

It’s a perfect way to break out of a creative rut and experiment with new techniques that add life to your artwork.

How to Use a Palette Knife with Watercolors

Unlike acrylic or oil painting, where you apply thick layers, using a palette knife in watercolor is a bit different. Here are some simple ways to start experimenting:

1. Scraping and Lifting

• Apply a wet wash of color to your paper.
• While it's still damp, use the edge of the knife to lift paint, creating highlights and texture.
• This works great for water reflections, rocky textures, or soft tree bark.

2. Applying Pigment with a Knife

• Instead of using a brush, scoop up thick watercolor (or gouache) with the flat part of the knife and press it onto the paper.
• This creates sharp edges and unexpected shapes that add contrast to your painting.

3. Dragging for Soft Blends

• Load a small amount of paint onto the tip of the knife.
• Gently drag it across a wet area, letting the pigment mix naturally with the water.
• This creates soft blends with rich texture—great for misty landscapes or abstract florals.

4. Sgraffito (Scratching into the Paint)

• When the paint is still wet, use the tip of the knife to scratch in details like branches, grass, or waves.
• This reveals the white paper underneath, adding contrast and depth.

What to Expect When Trying This Technique

The first time you try using a palette knife with watercolor, it might feel a little unpredictable—and that’s okay! Unlike controlled brushwork, this technique relies on spontaneity. Some areas may turn out beautifully, while others might surprise you in unexpected ways.

But that’s what makes it fun! It helps you let go of perfection and trust the natural movement of water and pigment.

A Fun Exercise to Try

If you’re curious about palette knife watercolor painting, try this:

1️⃣ Wet your paper and add a loose background wash.
2️⃣ Use a palette knife to scrape in trees, rocks, or abstract textures.
3️⃣ Let the water and pigment mix naturally without overworking it.
4️⃣ Once dry, go back in with a brush for any final details.

This is a great way to practice control while allowing for happy accidents—a key part of expressive watercolor painting.

Want to Learn More?

If you're excited to explore palette knife watercolor painting, I’ve put together a course that dives deeper into these techniques. In it, I’ll guide you step by step through creating expressive landscapes, textures, and details using both a palette knife and traditional watercolor methods. Plus, as a bonus, I’ve included a fun mushroom painting demo to help you practice! Whether you're new to watercolor or looking to loosen up your style, this course will give you the tools and confidence to paint more freely and creatively.

 I’d love to have you join me HERE!

Unlocking the Magic of Ox Gall in Watercolor Painting

If you’ve ever struggled with getting your watercolor paint to flow smoothly or blend effortlessly, you’re not alone! Watercolor is all about movement, but sometimes the paint just sits stubbornly on the paper. That’s where Ox Gall comes in—a little-known but powerful medium that can transform the way your paint interacts with water.

What is Ox Gall?

Ox Gall is a natural wetting agent derived from animal bile (though synthetic versions are also available). It reduces surface tension, allowing watercolor to spread more freely across the paper. This makes it especially useful for artists who:
✔️ Want smoother blends and transitions
✔️ Paint on harder-sized papers where water tends to bead up
✔️ Love creating misty, ethereal effects

How I Tested Ox Gall in My Watercolor Painting

For my latest experiment, I created a quick forest scene, focusing on how Ox Gall affects paint movement and blending. Here’s what I found:

🖌 Increased Flow: Paint glides across the paper more smoothly, making washes look effortless.
🌊 Softer Transitions: Perfect for misty landscapes, foggy backgrounds, and dreamy skies.
💧 Controlled Spreading: Unlike just adding more water, Ox Gall helps the paint move without losing vibrancy.

Want to see the full process? Watch my latest YouTube video here: [Insert Link]

How to Use Ox Gall in Your Paintings

• Mix it in your water before painting for an overall effect.
• Apply it directly to your paper in certain areas where you want more flow.
• Experiment with different amounts—a little goes a long way!

Ox Gall vs. Blending Medium – What’s the Difference?

While Ox Gall improves paint flow, blending mediums (like the one from Winsor & Newton) are designed to slow drying time, allowing for longer blending windows. If you’re looking for softer edges and gradual transitions, Ox Gall is the way to go. But if you need more working time before the paint dries, a blending medium might be the better choice.

Final Thoughts – Should You Try It?

Add Ox Gall to Your Toolkit HERE!

I’ve been testing Ox Gall for a while now, and I love the natural, flowing effects it creates in my watercolor paintings. It’s a great tool for artists who want to loosen up their work while maintaining control.

Want to give it a try? Test it out on some scrap paper before using it on a finished piece, and see how it changes your process!

Have you used Ox Gall before? Let me know your experience in the comments!

🎨✨ Want more watercolor tips? Join me on Youtube for more tutorials!

Why More Creators Are Moving to Patreon (And Why You Should Join Us)

For years, social media has been the go-to place for artists, educators, and creators to connect with their audience. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have allowed us to share our work, build communities, and even generate income. But recently, many creators—including myself—have started shifting towards platforms like Patreon. Why? Because social media is changing, and unfortunately, it’s making it harder for creators to reach the people who genuinely care about their work.

The Challenge with Social Media Today

If you’ve been following creators for a while, you’ve probably noticed a shift. Your feed is no longer filled with the artists, educators, and creatives you intentionally followed. Instead, it's flooded with recommended posts, advertisements, and viral content that the platform thinks will keep you engaged the longest.

Many creators have been feeling the effects of this algorithm shift. Posts that used to reach thousands of engaged followers now barely make it to a fraction of them. For artists and educators, this is incredibly frustrating. We spend hours creating valuable content, only for it to disappear into the void unless we constantly “play the game” of trends, clickbait, and daily posts.

Why Patreon?

Patreon offers something different—a direct line between creators and their most engaged supporters. Instead of relying on an unpredictable algorithm, Patreon allows fans to subscribe and access exclusive content, knowing they won’t miss out. Here’s why so many of us are making the move:

1. We Own Our Audience – On social media, our followers are really just platform users. If the algorithm hides our posts, we have no way to reach them. Patreon allows us to directly communicate with our supporters without interference.

2. Stable & Reliable Income – Social media monetization is inconsistent. One month might be great, while the next is a struggle. Patreon gives creators a more stable income stream, allowing us to focus on creating meaningful content instead of chasing viral trends.

3. More Valuable Content – Short-form content dominates social media, but true learning and creativity thrive in long-form. Patreon allows us to provide full-length tutorials, behind-the-scenes insights, and in-depth lessons that aren’t limited by a 60-second clip.

4. A Supportive Community – Unlike the fast-paced, scroll-and-forget nature of social media, Patreon fosters genuine engagement. Supporters feel like part of an inner circle, where they can ask questions, share progress, and interact more deeply with the creator and each other.

What This Means for My Students

If you’ve been enjoying my tutorials and lessons on Facebook or YouTube, I want to invite you to join me on Patreon. I’ll still share free content, but my most in-depth tutorials, exclusive LIVE paint-alongs, and bonus lessons will now be available to Patreon members. This move allows me to create higher-quality content without the stress of social media’s constant changes.

By joining my Patreon, you’ll get: ✅ Full-length tutorials with step-by-step guidance ✅ Exclusive live paint-alongs ✅ Direct access to ask questions and get feedback ✅ A growing library of lessons you can revisit anytime

I’d love for you to be part of this exciting new chapter! If you’re ready to take your watercolor journey further, check out my Patreon here: patreon.com/KellieChasse

Thank you for your continued support, and I can’t wait to create with you in a space built for creativity, not just algorithms!

The Joy of Painting Bigger: Why I’m Loving Going Larger

For years, I primarily painted small. There were a lot of practical reasons for it—smaller pieces are more affordable for buyers, require fewer supplies, and are much easier (and cheaper) to ship on Etsy. When I showcased my work at the Portland Jetport, smaller paintings were perfect for travelers who wanted to take a piece of Maine home with them without worrying about space.

But lately, I’ve been embracing painting bigger—and I have to say, I LOVE it! There’s something incredibly freeing and fulfilling about working on a large scale. Some of my favorite paintings are my bigger pieces, and I’ve been wondering why that is.

Why Painting Bigger Feels So Good

1. More Room to Express – With a larger surface, I can explore more textures, movement, and detail. There’s no need to hold back—I can let the brush flow freely and make bolder strokes.

2. A Different Kind of Energy – Big paintings command attention. They have a presence that smaller pieces just don’t. When I step back and see a large piece coming together, it feels powerful.

3. Self-Fulfillment Over Practicality – While small paintings make sense for selling and shipping, there’s something deeply satisfying about creating without limitations. Painting big allows me to push my creativity further.

4. More Immersive Experience – When I paint on a larger scale, I feel more connected to the process. I’m moving more, stepping back often, and fully engaging with the canvas—it becomes a whole-body experience!

Finding the Balance

Of course, I’ll still continue to offer smaller works for those who love them (and I do still love them, too!). But having options and allowing myself to enjoy the process of painting larger has been a game-changer. It reminds me why I fell in love with painting in the first place—to create freely, without restrictions.

So, if you’ve been thinking about going bigger, I say go for it! You might just find that your favorite pieces are the ones where you gave yourself the most space to create. If you are unsure about painting larger, then come join me on Patreon, where we'll be painting a larger watercolor LIVE, March 16th and you can follow along! 

Do you prefer painting big or small? Let’s chat in the comments!

Exploring Unfinished Art: A Fun Rework of a YouTube Demo

Sometimes, the best art pieces come from the ones you don't quite finish on the first go. This painting started as a demo for my YouTube channel, but I didn’t quite feel like it was “complete” at the time. However, this morning I decided to dive back in and give it a bit of a rework, just for fun!

The most interesting part of the process? The unexpected discoveries. I’m not 100% sure about the amount of gold I used in this piece, but that’s the beauty of it — the uncertainty often leads to the most exciting results. The gold adds an element of surprise and shine that I didn't plan, but I’m loving how it turned out.

If you want to see the original demo, you can catch it on my YouTube channel, where I share my process and techniques in real-time. But if you’re curious about how I reworked this piece, come join me on TikTok for a behind-the-scenes peek at the creative process!

Sometimes, it’s the pieces you’re not sure about that lead to the best breakthroughs. I’ll be playing around with more of these “unfinished” pieces, and I can’t wait to see where they take me. Stay tuned for more updates and, as always, thank you for following along with my artistic journey!

Watch the full demo on YouTube 
Join me on TikTok for the rework reveal : https://www.tiktok.com/@kelliechasse_fineart/video/7476147714493779243

Mastering the Art of Painting Fog in Watercolor

There’s something magical about fog in a landscape painting. It creates a soft, mysterious atmosphere that instantly transforms a scene into something dreamlike. But painting fog with watercolors can be tricky—too much paint, and you lose the airy effect; too little, and it disappears completely.

So how do you get that perfect misty look? Here are a few simple techniques to help you create beautiful, atmospheric fog in your watercolor paintings.

1. Start with Soft, Watery Washes

Fog isn’t harsh or defined, so your first step is to use very diluted paint. Light grays, blues, and purples work well for a moody effect. Use a large brush and lots of water to keep things loose and airy.

2. Blend and Lift for Depth

Once your first wash is down, use a damp brush (not too wet!) to soften edges and blend the fog into the background. You can also use a tissue or a dry brush to lift some of the paint, creating that natural, wispy effect.

3. Add Layers for a Realistic Look

Fog has depth, so building up soft, transparent layers is key. Let each layer dry before adding another to create the illusion of distance—darker values in the foreground and lighter ones fading into the background.

4. Try a Touch of White Gouache

For an extra pop of mist, white gouache can be a great tool! A few gentle dabs of diluted gouache in key areas can enhance the fog without overpowering the softness of the watercolor.

5. Keep It Loose and Mysterious

The biggest mistake artists make when painting fog is trying to make it too detailed. Let the paint do its thing! Watercolor is all about flow and movement, so embrace the natural blending that happens.

Want to See This in Action?

I just shared a new YouTube video where I walk through my process of painting a dreamy foggy scene. Watch it here: 

Have you tried painting fog before? Let me know in the comments what your biggest struggle is—I’d love to help!

#WatercolorTips #PaintingFog #WatercolorLandscapes #DreamyFog #ArtInspiration

Using Monster Liquid Latex as Masking Fluid for Watercolors

If you’ve been experimenting with different masking fluids for watercolor, you might have come across Monster Liquid Latex, a product typically used for special effects makeup. While it’s not marketed specifically for watercolor, I’ve been using it for a few years now and haven’t had any issues.

What’s the Difference Between Liquid Latex and Masking Fluid?

Liquid latex and masking fluid serve a similar purpose in watercolor painting—they both create a barrier that preserves the white of the paper by preventing paint from covering certain areas. However, there are a few key differences:

• Composition: Traditional masking fluid is usually made from liquid rubber or latex with added ammonia to keep it from drying too quickly. Monster Liquid Latex is primarily designed for skin application but has a similar rubbery consistency when dried.

• Flow and Application: Monster Liquid Latex has a slightly thinner consistency than some masking fluids, which can be a benefit for smoother application. It spreads evenly and works well with brushes or ruling pens.

• Residue and Staining: Some artists worry about latex staining their paper, but in my experience, I have not had any issues with staining, especially when using high-quality, 100% cotton papers like Arches and Strathmore watercolor cards.

My Experience and Best Practices

I’ve personally used Monster Liquid Latex for a while and found that it works well as a masking alternative. Here are some key takeaways from my experience:

Watch my youtube video here with my very first test!

• Use Quality Paper: I always use professional-grade paper like Arches or Strathmore, which holds up well to masking removal.

• Remove Masking Quickly: I don’t leave it on my paper for too long—removing it as soon as my washes are dry to avoid any risk of damage.

• Test First: While I haven’t had issues, I always recommend testing new products on scrap paper before using them on a finished piece.

Want to See Masking Fluid in Action?

I recently shared a new YouTube video where I demonstrate using a ruling pen and masking fluid to create crisp highlights in a rock painting. It’s a great technique for artists looking for more control over their masked areas. Check it out and let me know what you think!

As with any art supply, opinions vary, and what works for one artist may not work for another. Some swear by traditional masking fluids, while others enjoy experimenting with alternatives like liquid latex. If you’re curious, try it out on a test sheet and see how it works for your technique!

Have you tried different masking fluids in your watercolor practice? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!